Living and Active

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 (ESV)

Taking Action

At the beginning of this new year, I am intensely focused on taking action.

Thinking will not overcome fear, but action will. —W. Clement Stone

God is Reawakening Dreams

God has been stirring up some dreams in me that I have pushed down for too long because when I logically think about them, they seem highly unlikely. This past year, it finally dawned on me that if I never take action to try, they are definitely impossible.

Step in the Direction of the Goal

Determined steps in the direction of a goal make what seems unlikely and impossible move within your grasp. Then, those goals pile up as accomplished until a dream is achieved.

All of that seemed a little like Matt Foley Motivational Speaker nonsense to me until I realized that the foundations of it are actually in the word of God.

What does the Bible say?

They are not just stated in verses in the bible. The value of action toward a goal is built into the very fabric of God’s word itself.

Living and Active

Hebrews 4:12 says that God’s word is “living and ACTIVE” – not pensive and reposed. It has a goal to discern the thoughts and intentions deep within our hearts. To separate what our sinful nature wants from what the Holy Spirit within us wants. To carve away at blocks of marble until what’s left is a breathtaking masterpiece designer by the Creator of the universe.

The impossible becomes possible

What seems impossible (being like Christ) is made possible as we dive into the word of God and it changes us.

If God’s own word is taking specific action toward a goal and a purpose, then why wouldn’t we be doing the same thing?

Listen to His Voice

This year, let’s get into the word of God, reading, studying, and letting it transform our lives. At the same time, let’s listen to the quiet voice of the Holy Spirit inviting us to take action. Let’s not be frozen in contemplation, but move forward in action toward the purpose God has for each of our lives.

Action Step:

Have you been consistently in God’s word lately? If the answer is no, don’t wallow in guilt – read a verse, listen to a sermon, read a devotional blog post (we don’t have to spend hours a day for God’s word to start to transform us). Get moving in the right direction again and momentum will start to help us move forward.

Prayer:

God, thank you for Your living and active word. We are not perfect on our own, but You never give up on us! You are constantly pulling us back to Your love and redemption through Your Word and the prompting of the Holy Spirit. We love You and want become more like You this year. Help us to take action like Your Word does. In Jesus’ Name, amen.